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Basil

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Basil

Add a tinge of flavour with some basil.

  • Basil is a species of leafy herb that is used primarily in cooking, and it is mostly grown as an annual.
  • ‘Basil’ is also known as ‘Saint Joseph’s Wort’ and ‘sweet basil’, and sometimes ‘Thai basil’, however this name usually refers to a variety of the herb.
  • Basil has the scientific name Ocimum basilicum and is from the family of mint, and there are numerous varieties of the herb, including a licorice flavoured one.
  • Basil plants typically have green fragrant leaves, although purple varieties are available, and they usually grow to be 30 to 130 centimetres (12 to 51 inches) in height.
  • Basil is said to have originated in Asia and Africa, where, in some countries, it has been grown as a crop in ancient civilisations, especially in India.

Basil, Vegetation, Herb, Plant, Ten Random Facts, Green, Fresh, Growing.

  • Basil leaves are generally used to flavour foods, either dried or fresh, although the latter contains much more flavour, and oil can also be extracted from the plants.
  • Fresh basil should only be cooked for short time periods, as longer cooking will cause the flavour to dissipate.
  • Basil has been used in traditional medicine, especially in India, and studies into the herb have also determined that it has significant antiviral and other beneficial medicinal properties.
  • The term ‘basil,’ has it origins in the word ‘basileus’, and when translated from Greek means ‘king’.
  • Basil is extremely high in vitamin K, and is good source of manganese, and vitamin A.
Bibliography:
Basil, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil
Basil, 2015, The World’s Healthiest Foods, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=85

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Wartburg Castle

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Wartburg Castle

Be dazzled by both the architecture and history of Wartburg Castle.

  • Wartburg Castle is a medieval castle located approximately 410 metres (1345 feet) high on a rocky hill in Germany’s Thuringia, in Europe.
  • ‘Wartburg Castle’ is also known as ‘Wartburg’ and ‘Schloss Wartburg’.
  • Around 1067, the building of Wartburg Castle commenced, under the orders of Louis the Springer, Schauenburg’s count.
  • Wartburg Castle was built looking out over Eisenach, a nearby town, and protrudes from a surrounding forest, on a hill.
  • The term ‘Wartburg Castle’ possibly comes from the German words for ‘warte’, ‘berg’ and ‘burg’, translating as ‘wait’, ‘mountain’ and ‘fortress’, respectively.
Wartburg Castle, Germany, Renovated, Part, Side, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, HillPart of Wartburg Castle
Image courtesy of Forarama/Flickr
  • Some of the best Romanesque architecture can be found as part of Wartburg Castle, and the site has been home to many significant historical events.
  • Wartburg Castle is a common tourist attraction, visited by approximately 500,000 people annually, and it is the home to a museum, as well as an area suitable for opera productions and concerts.
  • The German Catholic priest and theologian, Martin Luther is believed to have translated the Bible’s New Testament to German, from the Greek language, during the months he was in exile at Wartburg Castle between 1521 and 1522.
  • Wartburg Castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and is owned by the Wartburg Foundation of Eisenach.
  • Wartburg Castle became majorly abandoned and unused from the 1500s, until the Grand Duke of Saxony in the 1800s decided to re-establish and repair the castle early in that century.
Bibliography:
Wartburg, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wartburg
Wartburg Castle, 2015, Sacred Destinations, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/wartburg-castle
Wartburg Castle, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/897

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Marguerite Daisy

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Marguerite Daisy

A marguerite daisy make your garden smile.

  • Marguerite daisies are a group of 24 species of flowering plants, native to the islands of Macaronesia, in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Marguerite daisy plants are also known as ‘marguerites’ and ‘dill daisies’.
  • The scientific name of a marguerite daisy is Argyranthemum, and it is from the family Asteraceae, the family of daisies.
  • Marguerite daisy plants are perennials, that usually have a long flowering period, generally from spring to autumn.
  • Marguerite daisies are typically used as a decorative garden plant, often in flower beds or as a pot plant, and the flowers can also feature in floral arrangements.

Marguerite Daisy, Ten Random Facts, Flower, Vegetation, White, Flickr

  • The flowers of marguerite daisies can be white, pink, purple and yellow in colour, while the petals can be arranged as singles or doubles, sometimes with numerous layers of petals.
  • Many marguerite daisy species have received the Award of Garden Merit, given by the British Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Marguerite daisies are typically small shrubs and grow to a height of 30 to 100 centimetres (1 to 3.3 feet) height.
  • Marguerite daisies grow best in areas that receive full sun, or a large quantity of light, and well drained soil.
  • The native habitat of some species of wild marguerite daisies is being threatened by grazing, humans and erosion, with at least two species endangered, plus one that is critically endangered.

 

Bibliography:
Argyranthemum, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyranthemum
Argyranthemum, 2015, Renaissance Herbs, http://www.renaissanceherbs.com.au/romantic-cottage/argyranthemum
Argyranthemum, n.d, Syngenta Flowers, http://www.syngentaflowers.com/country/us/en/seeds/GrowingGuidelinesLib/Argyranthemum_Final.pdf
Kimberley M, Argyranthemum, 2010, Horticulture Week, http://www.hortweek.com/argyranthemum/article/1008910

Transmission Tower

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Transmission Tower

The transmission towers have done their work quite efficiently.

  • Transmission towers are constructed objects that are used to keep electricity lines stable and safe above the ground.
  • ‘Transmission towers’ are also known as ‘electricity pylons’, and in some circumstances they are called ‘hydro towers’.
  • Transmission towers are typically erect off the ground, and stand between 15 to 55 metres (49 to 180 ft) in height, although some can reach heights of 370 metres (1214 feet).
  • Transmission towers generally transmit electricity voltages from 66 to 230 kilovolts, and different towers are needed for different voltages.
  • Typically, wires are carried through transmission towers and are insulated with ceramic, glass, or other materials; while three or more wires can generally be held on the tower at one time.

Transmission Tower, Electricity Pylon, Ten Random Facts, Invention, Lattice, Steel, Power Lines, Australia

  • Transmission towers are generally built with a lattice-work structure and are most often made of metal, but concrete, wood, and other materials can also be used; and the towers usually include a lightening rod that directs any lightning-caused energy towards the ground.
  • Transmission towers are often marked with a notice that notes certain properties and the identification number of the specified tower; and some towers also have lights, that are used to signify their location during nighttime.
  • As at 2014, the tallest transmission towers in the world were 370 metres (1214 feet) high, found in Asia, on China’s Damao and Liangmao Islands, however there is a taller tower planned for a site on Indonesia’s island of Bali, that is proposed to reach 376 metres (1234 feet) in height.
  • Transmission towers can be constructed in position, or on the ground, and put in place using air or land based cranes.
  • Scenic views can be disrupted by the presence of transmission towers, and this is classified as visual pollution; while drops in land or house values can occur as a result.
Bibliography:
Transmission Tower, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_tower
What is a Power Transmission Tower?, 2015, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-power-transmission-tower.htm

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Mussel

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Mussel

Don’t go picking any random mussel off the street, or in this case, the rocks.

  • Mussels are a groups of molluscs that are found in both salt and fresh water environments, and they are roughly symmetrical.
  • The term ‘mussels’ is most commonly applied to the family Mytilidae, a family of saltwater species; and the molluscs are from the class Bivalvia, the class of bivalve molluscs.
  • Mussels can grow to be 4 to 15 centimetres (1.6 to 6 inches) in length, and are typically taller than wider.
  • The shell of a mussel is frequently a dark colour, like brown, blue or black, and it is also three-layered, in two halves, and is connected at a hinge; while the internal creature has a ‘foot’ that is a muscle-like organ, used to drag the mollusc along surfaces.
  • The diet of mussels consists of tiny aquatic animals such as plankton, which can affect the mollusc’s toxicity, and their food is caught using their water filtering system.
Mussel, Blue, Animals, Aquatic, Marine, Californian, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Mussels
Image courtesy of Franco Folini/Flickr
  • Fresh water mussel larvae fasten themselves to fish once born, and using the host’s excreted chemicals they create a shell; and then detach from their host after the shell has been made.
  • Around 17 species of mussel are considered suitable for consumption by humans, and China was the biggest producer of edible species in 2005, roughly totalling 40% of the worldwide production.
  • Mussels are commonly eaten as seafood, and must be cooked while they are living, or only just dead, otherwise toxins can build, and cooking styles include smoking, roasting, steaming, boiling and frying.
  • Mussels typically take 12 to 15 months to grow to a commercially acceptable size, which is approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length.
  • Mussels are a good source of phosphorus, iron and protein, and they are high in selenium, and extremely high in vitamin B12 and manganese.
 Bibliography:
Mussel, 2015, Encylopedia.com, http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/mussel.aspx
Mussel, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussel

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Mount Etna

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Mount Etna

Mount Etna is explosive tonight!

  • Mount Etna is a volcanic mountain found near Sicily’s coast, in Italy, Europe, that actively erupts in a stratovolcanic way.
  • Mount Etna reaches approximately 3,330 metres (10,925 feet) in height, taking the position of being Europe’s most elevated active volcano.
  • Mount Etna became a national park area in 1987, and in mid 2013, the main part of the volcano was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Mount Etna spreads 1,190 square kilometres (459 square miles) in area, and is 140 kilometres (87 miles) in circumference.
  • ‘Mount Etna’ is also known as ‘Mongibello’ or ‘Montebello’ and ‘Mungibeddu’ in Italian and Sicilian respectively, as well as ‘Muntagna’.
Mount Etna, Volcano, Stratovolcanic, Scenic, Italy, Sicily, White, Sky, Flickr
Mount Etna
Image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
  • In 2008, Mount Etna had five primary craters and at least 300 side vents that have been used in the past to eject eruptions; while parts of the mountain have collapsed on a number of occasions.
  • The name ‘Mount Etna’ probably originates from either ‘attuna’ or ‘aithō’, meaning ‘furnace’ in Phoenician or ‘I burn’ in Greek respectively, and the volcano features prominently in Greek mythology and literature.
  • Records of Mount Etna eruptions date back thousands of years, and there have been numerous significant eruptions, including many in the last hundred years.
  • Mount Etna is the one of the most popular tourist areas in Sicily, and it can be either hiked or driven up using suitable vehicles, and it is also a leading site of volcanic research.
  • Mount Etna is surrounded by numerous communities, that, in the event of an eruption, are generally protected from lava flow using diversion tactics that include deposits, explosives and holes.
Bibliography:
Mount Etna, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Etna
Mount Etna, 2015, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/collections/mount_etna
Mount Etna, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1427

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